Using contraceptive pills
12-5-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
I have a question regarding the use of contraceptives, not on the site the pill in particular. Is it permissible to use the pill with the idea that you don’t want to have any more children and that you are committed to it for the rest of your life? If you already have two children and you and your husband both don’t want more children, because of the responsibility and also that you want to spend time together and without risking your relationship with your husband because of children (that he does not take another wife because you are tired etc)?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Being able to give birth is a great blessing that Allah bestows on His servants. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) urged men to marry the prolific woman in order to have many children. Abu Dawud, Al Nasa’e and Ahmad reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Marry the affectionate and prolific woman as I want you to outnumber other nations."
So, initially the woman should not use contraceptives. But if there is necessity to use them, it should be limited to that specific necessity. The scholars of Islam set the following conditions for using contraceptives.
1) The contraceptive pills should be harmless to the woman as the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “There should be no harm nor reciprocal harm."
2) There should be mutual agreement between the wife and her husband to use contraceptives as both of them have the right to have children.
3) There should be a necessity for applying such methods such as the weakness of the woman, her fatigue, etc.
4) The pills should not be known to result in permanent interruption of having children.
From the above conditions set by the scholars, it becomes clear that it is unlawful for the questioner to take contraceptive pills that cause permanent interruption of pregnancy.
In fact, the reasons she gave for the use of contraceptive pills are not considered a necessity that allows their use in the first place. Indeed, preserving the affection of one’s husband is better achieved by having more children as that makes the relation stronger. On the other hand, staying a long time in seclusion with one’s husband might cause boredom hence lack of interest.
Allah knows best.